Tottenham Hotspur's John Bostock not signing with San Jose

SAN JOSE -- The Earthquakes have passed on English midfielder John Bostock less than a week before they open the Major League Soccer season.

Coach Frank Yallop said Tuesday the signing of star striker Chris Wondolowski played a key role in the decision to let Bostock return to Tottenham Hotspur of the English Premier League. The Quakes had hoped to sign the midfielder to a loan deal similar to Simon Dawkins the past two years. Dawkins is on loan from Tottenham playing for the EPL's Aston Villa this year.

The team announced Tuesday it signed Wondolowski to a designated player contract. While team officials didn't disclose details of the deal they also didn't dispute a report from SI.com that it will net the league's reigning MVP $600,000 this season. The so-called designated player designation allows teams to pay up to three players over the salary cap without being penalized.

Yallop said signing Bostock would have been "too big a gamble for us. It didn't work out financially."

The Earthquakes want to have some financial wiggle room for a mid-season acquisition if they need to make a change. San Jose is opening the season without regulars Mehdi Ballouchy (torn ACL), Steven Beitashour (sports hernia repair), Marvin Chavez (MCL sprain), Alan Gordon (foot surgery) and Steven Lenhart (knee surgery). Forward Marcus Tracy also is recovering from a left ankle bone spur.

Not signing Bostock gives the team "some room to maneuver," Yallop added.